One of the most popular types of beers is the lager beer. The word lager comes from the German word "lagern" which translates to mean "to store". Lager beers are usually served at a cool temperature rather than at room temperature. Lager beer is made by aging it in large kegs and letting the yeast settle. This creates a beer that is crisp and has a delicate flavor. It takes more time to make a lager beer than other beers since lagers are aged for a longer period of time.
Another type of fermented beer is known as bock beer. This is because this type is named after the German beer brewing town of Einbeck. Bock beer is a bit heavier than a lager beer and is a dark color due to the malts that are used during the brewing process.
Ales are another type of beer and are generally served at room temperature. Even though individual ales have their own distinctive flavor, they all share some commonalities: fruitiness, some acidity, and a slightly bitter aftertaste that is actually good. The aging and brewing times for ales is slower than for the lagers.
Stout and porter types of beer are different from lagers and ales. These beers can be sweet or dry and flavored with oats, roasted malt barley, or certain types of sugars. Porter and stouts are known for their deep coloring and depth of taste, making them perfect for meals that are made of meat or fish. Combining a meal of oysters and stout beer has long been known as one of the finest meals in Europe.
Occasionally, a beer will be referred to as "dry" beer. This means the amount of sugar left in the beer after the fermentation process. Dry beers are typically fermented over a longer period of time than other varieties of beers so that most of the sugar within the beer has turned into alcohol. In the end, this fermentation process produces a beer that is crisp and clear with little aftertaste.
There are different variations of beer all over the world, especially with the popularity of the micro brewery that is popping up all over the place. Micro breweries are a great way for you to sample the local beers when you are traveling and to get a good taste for what the culture is like in a particular country or city.
Beer is the oldest recorded alcoholic beverage in history, with origins dating back to ancient times, even as far back as ancient Egypt. Beer has been the drink of choice of many people, for a very long time.
So what exactly is beer and how is it made? Beer is basically an alcoholic beverage made from fermented starches. It main ingredients consist of water, malted barley (or other starch sources like wheat, cassava, etc.), hops, and yeast. They are then fermented through a process called brewing. After brewing the beer is ready to be consumed, though further processes like aging and carbonation can be practiced to improve the taste and quality.
Throughout the years, many different types of beer have been created around the world. These types of beers can vary in things like flavor, color and aroma. Various different cultures have invented their own distinct take on this famous beverage.
Beer is generally classified into two types or styles based on the yeast used for fermentation. These two types are ales, which uses top-fermenting yeast, and lagers which are brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast. These yeast give the beer their own unique characteristics, which can affect how the beer looks and tastes.
Ales along with using top-fermenting yeast, are fermented at a warmer temperature than lagers. They're fermented at about 15 to 23'C, 60 to 75'F and usually take a shorter amount of time to ferment. Ales tend to have a stronger more pronounced taste as well as a fuller body. Ales can also have a somewhat nutty or fruity taste that are the result of the warmer fermentation temperatures.
Some common varieties of ales include:
Pale ale - Pales ales are ales that use pale malts, usually barley. They all tend to have similar characteristics, such as a strong hop taste and low to medium malt levels, though many countries have their own versions of pale ale like the English Bitter, Saison, and India Pale Ale each with their own slight variations.
Porter- A porter is a dark ale ranging from dark brown to black in color. It was originally created in the 1700's in Britain. A combination of three different kinds of ale, it was very popular among the porters of old London, hence the name. It was made from roasted malt barley giving it a rich aroma and full body.
Stout- Stout is a dark ale derived from porter. Like a porter it has a very dark coloring. This results from roasting the malted barley, used for brewing, until black. Irish dry stout like Guinness or Murphy's are known for their bitter, roasted taste. The ale's black color topped with distinctive creamy head gives it it's nickname the "priest's collar" and goes well with oysters.
The other type of beer are lagers. The word lager is derived from a German word "lagern". "Lagern" translated means "to store" and alludes to a time when brewers used to store beer in caves to ferment in cooler temperature.
Lagers are made with bottom-fermenting yeast at temperatures ranging from 8 to15 degrees C or 46 to 59 degrees F. At these cooler temperatures, the beer will generally take a longer time to ferment. Lagers are known generally be lighter in color than ales. They also have a distinctively clean and crisp taste that makes them very popular to the masses. They also tend to have a lower alcohol content than ales and are best served cold.
Some beers categorized as lagers are:
Pilsner- Considered the most popular type of beer in the world. Pilsners are generally light yellow to golden in color and usually well balanced in flavor, with a clean, crisp taste.
American style lagers- The common, mass produced type of beer in America is a type of pilsen. Light in color and flavor, it is also high in carbonation.
Bock- Bock is a dark lager originating from Germany. It's high in alcohol and malt making it a strong, full-bodied beer.
There are many more kinds of beers, each with their own distinct style and taste. There are enough choices to satisfy just about anyone's taste.
Beer has been around since even before people could write! With so many kinds of beer to choice from, and even more being invented all the time, there is no doubt that beer will be here to stay.
Both Bob Kandl & Lee Dobbins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Bob Kandl has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wine and Spirits, Writing. Bob Kandl is the chief editor for , a fantastic resource for information about Beer. For more articles on Beer why not visit:. Bob Kandl's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.
Lee Dobbins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Diamonds and Install Flooring. Lee Dobbins writes for where you can learn more about. Lee Dobbins's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.